Laurent Fabius expresses irriation with David Cameron over comments that it
would have been 'unthinkable' for Britain to have done deal in the wake of
the downing of flight MH17

David Cameron is a hypocrite to demand France cancel a deal to build warships for Russia while London remains a haven for oligarchs, France’s foreign minister has said.

Laurent Fabius let slip his irriation with the prime minister over his comments that it would have been “unthinkable” for Britain to have done such a deal when the West has strong misgivings about Moscow’s role in the downing of flight MH17.

“Dear British friends, let’s talk about finance,” he said. “I was led to believe that there were quite a few Russian oligarchs in London.”

Asked whether he was inviting the UK to put their own house in order before making comments, Mr Fabius replied: “Exactly.”

In Saint-Nazaire, western France, where the grey bulk of the Vladivostok towered over the dockside, most took a similar view.

With thousands of jobs dependent on its shipyards, few harboured qualms about the €1.2 billion (£950 million) contract for the Vladivostok and its sister ship, the Sevastopol.

The owner of Le Ralliement, a café patronised by shipyard workers a few hundred yards from where the Vladivostok is docked, bristled with anger at Mr Cameron and Barack Obama, the US president.

“Obama should get off our case and concentrate on solving America’s problems,” said the burly 62-year-old, who declined to be named. Thumping his hands on the bar for emphasis, he said: “As for Cameron, he should stop being the voice of his master and obediently repeating everything Obama says. If he wants to be heard in Europe, he should act as if he’s part of it.”

He stroked his moustache before adding: “The British should have been kicked out of the EU when they chose not to take the euro like everyone else. And that soft president of ours hasn’t got the guts to stand up to anyone.”

Asked if it was morally justifiable to sell sophisticated warships to Russia after the downing of Flight MH17 by a missile which Washington says was fired from an area in eastern Ukraine held by pro-Moscow rebels, the café owner said: “If we don’t sell ships to them, someone else will.” Around the port, used by the Nazis as a submarine base in the Second World War, many shared his opinion, even if they expressed it less vehemently.

Stéphane Gohaud, a 46-year-old taxi driver, described the MH17 disaster as “horrifying and tragic”, but added: “It should never have flown over a war zone. I don’t believe the Russians wanted it to be shot. It was a horrible mistake.”

In Paris, the head of Mr Hollande’s Socialist party, Mr Cambadélis, defended the decision to push ahead with delivery of the Vladivostok, due in October.

Mr Hollande has said that delivery of the second ship will depend on Russia’s attitude.

“Hollande is not backing down,” Mr Cambadélis said, a day after Mr Cameron said it would be “unthinkable” for Britain to fulfil such an order.

“This is a false debate led by hypocrites … When you see how many [Russian] oligarchs have sought refuge in London, David Cameron should start by cleaning up his own back yard.”

Like many shipbuilding towns, Saint-Nazaire has seen orders decline. With 14 per cent unemployment, considerably higher than the national average, it has received a much-needed boost from the Russian contract.

Christophe Morel, a union representative at the STX France shipyard, said: “It helps seven to eight thousand people stay in work.” About 400 Russian sailors are spending three months in the town training to operate the helicopter carriers.

They can be seen strolling in the centre. Shopkeepers, who have been armed with a glossary of Russian phrases by the chamber of commerce, said there were always Russian sailors at the open-air market on Sunday morning. Some have been joined by their partners for the summer holidays. Two tanned sailors walking near the beach yesterday with their wives said they did not understand why Russia was being blamed.

“We did not attack this plane,” said one, who gave his name as Arkady. “There must be an investigation before the Americans can say it was our fault.”